By Matsobane Manaka and Maphuti Machabaphala
Fredericka Legodi (left) and Ephenia Kekana, Capricorn District Director were among the participants in the Transformation Symposium.
The recent data from Statistics South Africa indicated the improved economic performance in Limpopo. However, this economic growth had no positive contribution from agriculture. This is despite Limpopo being a major national producer of fruits and vegetables — from potatoes and mangoes to avocados and tomatoes.
“The reality that our agricultural contribution to GDP remains minimal should concern all of us in this room. The reason is simple: we produce high volumes but add little value. Our produce often leaves the province to be processed elsewhere, and so the jobs, profits, and industrial growth follow the processing plants – not the farms that supply them. This must change”, said the Limpopo Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (LDARD) Acting MEC Dieketseng Mashego during Gala Dinner at the 8th Annual Potatoes South Africa Transformation Symposium held at The Ranch Hotel, Polokwane.
Mashego made assertion that the province cannot continue to export raw produce and import finished goods made from “our own harvests”. “The time has come for Limpopo to build strong agro-processing capacity — right here, where our produce is grown.
If we improve value addition within the province, more factories will be born, more permanent jobs created, and more rural economies revitalized. We must move from being a province that produces for others to one that processes, packages, and exports under its own brands”, said Mashego.
The hosting of two-day Transformation Symposium under the theme, “Old Roots, New Shoots – Revitilising and Fostering News Relationships”, is the first step towards the right direction. The collaborative platform brought together farmers, government officials, researchers, and private sector partners to strengthen partnerships driving transformation and sustainability within South Africa’s potato industry.
Various issues were discussed from Technology for Small-Scale Farming to panel Discussion on Unlocking Market Access & Trade Equity in Africa. This was in addition to LDARD Head of Department Mpho Mashamba, who outlined the department’s strategic interventions driving transformation across Limpopo’s thriving Potato Belt. Her presentation reflected on the status of potatoes in Limpopo that the province remained South Africa’s leading potato producer, contributing 22% of the national output with more than 8 000 hectares planted annually.
Since the launch of the Potato Belt initiative in 2022, over 842 hectares had been developed across the Capricorn District, benefiting 19 new-era farmers and generating an estimated R128 million in gross revenue. These initiatives also created more than 3 000 job opportunities, both permanent and seasonal, underscoring the sector’s growing impact on livelihoods.
In showing shared commitments, Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed among partners to strengthen farmer support systems, enhance research and innovation, and promote inclusive participation of youth, women, persons with disabilities and emerging farmers across the potato value chain.
